Is there a better way of painting clear light lenses?

[jaydar]

Currently i Future coat my lenses. I paint Tamiya clear red/ambur on the INSIDE then when dry i paint silver. It looks good to me.

Is there a better way of doing this????

thahks,

joe.

[fatkidd]

This is one of those questions where you might get several different answers.

What I do in this situation is to

(1) put B.M.F. (bare metal foil) on the body where the tail light, turn signal, etc

(2) use a red sharpie to color the back side of the clear piece (you could also use an orange or yellow sharpie for turn signals)

(3) glue in place with elmer's glue, alleene's glue, or whatever your glue preference is for clear parts

[sportandmiah]

Joe I know of no better way than what you described.

[Kit Basher]

For turn signal lenses that attach to a chrome grille, I got the best result by airbrushing Tamiya transparent orange on the outside of the lenses. It looks like solid orange plastic. When I tried painting the inside, it looked like a clear lens with paint on the inside. Hope that makes some sense.

[jaydar]

For turn signal lenses that attach to a chrome grille, I got the best result by airbrushing Tamiya transparent orange on the outside of the lenses. It looks like solid orange plastic. When I tried painting the inside, it looked like a clear lens with paint on the inside. Hope that makes some sense.

That was my concern. where does the color appear? Inside (my current method) or outside (Your method). Do you clear coat over the tamiya? Is so what do you use?

thanks,

joe.

[Harry P.]

Hugh is exactly right... when you paint the inside of the lens, it has that weird "thick" look and just doesn't look right. Best way that I have found is to use Tamiya transparent amber and/or stoplight red and paint the outside of the lens. It doesn't get any more realistic than that.

[Jeremy Jon]

Agreed with Hugh, painting the outside gives the most realistic result

I like to thin the paint slightly and hand brush, but airbrush also is even better

For some added detail, to mimic a bulb I will drill a small hole from the backside where the bulb would be located, at only partial depth, then with a pin or toothpick dab gloss white into there, then paint the backside with chrome/bright silver to complete, and install with either craft glue or testor clear parts cement

[Kit Basher]

Do you clear coat over the tamiya? Is so what do you use?

thanks,

joe.

I did not clear coat over the Tamiya. I don't think it needs it.

[jaydar]

Thanks, i wii give you methos a try. At least then i can compare the two for myself.

Regards,

Joe.

[PappyD340]

I use Hugh's method too, and I think it is the best method!!